Distance: 2.0 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 812m to 1270m. Gain: 20m. Loss: 478m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

Exposed, narrow ridgelines, consider an ice-axe if there's snow and ice around.

From Ruapae ighpoint a poled, cairned track heads east over open tops to Herepai highpoint, beyond which it drops steeply into bush and scrub. A cut, marked track commences and descends to Herepai Hut 200m below.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A cut, marked track climbs steeply through the last of bush and scrub above Herepai Hut. After a hard, steep 200m climb, you emerge on to tussock and gravel tops and the gradient eases. A good ground trail follows the ridgeline up to Herepai Highpoint then west to Ruapae. A cairn on Ruapae summit marks the junction with the Main Range route heading north to Burn Hut.